Numbers are down this season for Lady Flyers, Wolverines

By Linda YounkinPublished: August 27, 2014 10:10AM

Numbers are small this year for the Franklin County and Western Hills girls golf teams, but coach Lesa Hodge has been happy with what she’s seen from the squads.
“It’s been an enjoyable year,” said Hodge, who coaches both teams, after a tri-match with Shelby County Tuesday at Juniper Hill. “It’s a rebuilding and learning year.
“Some girls are struggling a little bit this season, but they’re all working hard. It’s a group of girls who love the game of golf, enjoy being together and work hard and their scores will start to reflect that very soon.”
Shelby County won the match with a score of 154. FCHS was second at 226, and Western Hills shot 251.
WHHS has five players out for this year’s team, but Sidney Cobb, the only senior, is sidelined with a foot injury.
The Lady Flyers have seven players this season.
“We don’t have a lot of experience,” Hodge said. “We have one girl who never played nine holes until last week at Kearney Hills, and we have a couple who had never played a real varsity match.
“I’m so pleased the girls are working so hard. Some of them put in a lot of work over the summer, and that makes me extremely happy.”
FCHS has three golfers who played in the top five last year — Cami Montgomery, Mackenzie Cunningham and Madison Cunningham.
Emily Stevens and Allison Harrod played in the top five last year for Western Hills.
Eighth-graders Emilie Hill and Christine McGaughey are playing in the top four for WHHS.
Four players are needed for a team score. If a team has five players compete it can drop its highest score from its team score.
‘Christine has really stepped up with Sidney out,” Hodge said. “She and Emilie are eighth-graders, and this is their first time in the top five. They’re filling some big shoes.”
Montgomery and Stevens both shot 53 to lead their teams.
Franklin County’s other scores were Madison Cunningham 55, Natalie Thomas 58, Mackenzie Cunningham 60 and Reagan Toothaker 72.
For WHHS, Harrod shot 61 followed by Hill at 63 and McGaughey with a 74.
Western Hills and Franklin County have another tri-match at Juniper Hill today when they host Boyle County.